LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 7, 20 October 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Among the men whose, voices were heard in .the overseas soldiers’ greetings broadcast yesterday morning were “Gav.” Commons, of Ashburton, and a soldier named Hooper, from llakaia.

“It is true that I admired most of them as still life, but I am bound to say that the German paratroops consisted of men of wonderful physique,” said Lieutenant K. J. Staunton in a talk on his experiences in Crete to New Plymouth Rotarians.

A broken ankle was suffered by Mr Arthur Leonard Narby, a labourer at Surrey Hills Public Works Department camp, when he fell from a bicycle on Saturday afternoon. He was admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital.

Postings of parcels for soldiers overseas. and for airmen and members of the naval forces, have been very heavy in Ashburton iu the last week, and on one day no fewer than 80 bags of parcels were sent away iron; here. The parcels are scheduled to reach the recipients by Christmas.

Another patriotic feature has been devised by Mr E. J. Spicer (actingCurator) for the planting out of nemesias, at the Ashburton Domain. This time the plants will be arranged in tin* form of a “V” and will be located at the Park Street entrance to the Domain. The liemesias to be bedded out are of two varieties, Aurora, a crimson type, and Twilight, a blue and white mottled flower.

Soldiers on final leave in Hawke’s Bay who desire to be married are to be permitted to obtain a special marriage licence at a charge loft to the discretion of the officiating minister in the event of the soldier being unable to give the necessary notice for publishing banns. A decision to this effect Avas reached at the Svnod_ of the Diocese of Waiapu in Napier. It was felt that, the Church should pay what tribute it could to soldiers under these circumstances.

Longer notice is to he given in future to men living in outlying country districts when they are required to report for medical examination after being called up for service in the arnica forces. This undertaking has been given to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). At its recent meeting the Dominion executive passed a remit urging that these men should receive longer notice than they did at present as in some back-country districts farmers received their mail only twice a week.

A good deal of amusement was occasioned at a meeting between the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) and Auckland milk industry interests when a speaker, in commenting on the work of milk roundsmen, observed that one could not make a carthorse go as fast as a racehorse. He suggested that the Minister should know something of the racehorse angle. The Minister was quick to reply: “I know that a lot of racehorses run like carthorses.” Mr I. J. Goldstine (chairman of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council) observed that unfortunately ho had backed the type of racehorse mentioned by the Minister.

The difficulty of locating faults on the power lines when interruptions occur for no apparent reason and the insulators are the cause, was mentioned at the meeting of the Ashburton Electric Power Board this morning, when the Engineer-Secretary (Mr H. iG. Kemp) exhibited a broken insulator which had caused an interruption in the Mayfield area recently. From the ground, the insulator appeared to be intact, and the fault was only located after workmen had. climbed the polos over several miles of line. The broken insulator was located on the last pole in the section.

Although the United States is not at war, the “V for Victory” slogan apparently has as wide an appeal in that country as it hn.<s in the British Empire. A .'Dunedin philatelist has received from America a supply of seals bearing the slogan, and printed in vivid red and blue colours. The inscription invites citizens to join the “V” Club of America. The stamp has been issued by the British-American Ambulance Corps and has the endorsement of the National Poster Stamp Society. Other stamps arriving from the United States and Canada show the influence of current events, one purpose of the new designs being to encourage saving for defence purposes.

Considerable discussion took place in the Diocesan Synod, Auckland, on a motion by the Rev. M. Harcourt that the Synod should make a clear and exhaustive statement of Christian war aims and factors lying at the base of a reconstructed society. Various speakers contended that the suggested task would take several years to perform properly and that there wore many more pressing matters in hand. Mr Harcourt then amended his motion to request the bishop to set up a commission to study the question of war aims as applicable to Now Zealand, the commission to circulate a draft statement and report to the Synod a year hence. The amended motion was carried.

A striking instance of the, keen enthusiasm of a youth to serve with the fighting forces was provided in an incident which oecured on the Great South Rond, Auckland on a recent afternoon. He was proceeding to the city in a. small tourer model motor-car which suddenly caught fire. Passing motorists assisted him to extinguish the flames agound the engine. This accomplished, lie turned to the others ai d asked for a lift to town. In reply to suggestions that he should see to his car lie said it could waii~he had an appointment in connection with his enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a pilot. Not even attending to his hands, which were scorched and fire-blackened, he hastened on his journey.

Quito casually, a youth charged in the City Police "Court at Dunedin with a breach of the motor regulations admitted to Mr \V. H. Bundle, S.M., that lie thought lie received about £3 los a. week, but that he was not sure, since lio had not bothered to count, bis wages. At an early age, it appeared, he had displayed remarkable mechanical aptitude. for lie told the Magistrate that he had been driving a motor-car over since he could remember—about 11 or 12 years, ho thought. Reminded by his Worship that his age was given as 20 and that he must, therefore, have been only eight years of age when ho began to drive, he naively agreed that “that would he about right.” Imposing a fine of £2, the Magistrate remarked drily. “You will have to count vour wages this week.” "With a cheerful “Yes, sir,” the defendant left the Court.

Tiio AVillowby sub-branch of the Red Cross Society held an afternoon in the garden of the Rev. W. AV. and Mrs Avery o;i Saturday, when 1000 tulip's were in bloom. Airs .T. 11. Lattinioie (president) welcomed the visitoi s.

A social hour was- held after the evening service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church yesterday, and there was a good attendance Miss \V. Bruce saner a"solo and a reading from one of iso,Tel Cameron’s short stories was given by Mr E. G. Craighead.

Two interruptions to the power supply in Ashburton occurred on Saturday and one this afternoon. In the first cases the power was shut off briefly to permit of certain inspection work being carried out by the Public Works Department and to-day the break was necessitated by the cutting in of a new line on the Power Board’s system. In each break only a portion of the town was concerned.

“We live in ione corner of the. world and we are apt not to realise sometimes how small it is,” said Mr R. L. iVLacalister, speaking at a meeting of the Wadestown and Highland Park Men’s Society. “Those of our men who are away overseas will come back with a- wonderful education and a different perspective. They will get a great benefit from that part of their experience.”

Entries for the Ashburton Show continued to come in freely to-day and it is believed there will be a very satisfactory total when the general entries close to-morrow, as an appeal is being made for special assistance, this year, flic profits from the show to go to patriotic purposes. Late entries will be received up to next Friday, when the totals in the various sections will bo available.

“At Milford Sound they measure the rainfall in feet not in inches,” said Mr F. W. G. Miller, secretary of the Automobile Association (Southland), who paid a visit to the bound this week. “During the nine months to the end of September this year 14 feet, or 168 inches, of rain were registered at the Sound, and in _ April, 1939, 18 inches of rain fell in 15 hours. The rain gauge had to be emptied three times that. day. There is no doubt that when it rains at Milford, it makes no mistake about it.” Air Miller added that this high rainfall ought not to deter the tourist and holidaymaker because Milford Sound looked* its best after rain. The numerous waterfalls made a wonderful sight.

Vandalism in the Ashburton Domain is becoming a week-end affair, dower beds being torn about, plants disturbed and broken and trees and equipment damaged. This week-end, someone went on to the large island in the main pond and killed a Canadian goose that was sitting on eight eggs. The eggs were all smashed by stones being thrown at them and were scattered about the vicinity. A large white goose, familiar to many visitors to the Domain from the peculiarity of its feathers, which appear to be attached to its body back to front, had one of its legs broken, and it was injured under one wing, where blood was flowing this morning. It is believed that this bird will have to be destroyed.

An interesting feature of the many applications for seasonal work made by students at the Otago University is that women are prepared to undertake work in wool sheds during their vacations. The president of the Otago University Students’ Association (Mr L. Blackxe) gave this information to a “Daily Times” reporter. “A surprising feature is that their applications have stated that some have had previous experience,” lie added. Air Biackie opinted out that he had been informed by Air A. 0. Cameron, of the Otago Primary .Production Council that women V “made a better job” of wool shed work, such as picking up, than did men.

To make its third broadcast this year, the Ashburton Silver Band will go to Christchurch this evening, the problem of transport having been overcome through the generosity of residents. The programme, which will start at 7.36 o’clock, and which will be broadcast by 3YA, will feature a trombone solo by Bandsmen R. Ntorrisli, whoso playing when he won the Band’s B grade championship recently was very favourably commented on by the adjudicator. Another feature will he the selection, “Shamrock Land,” an unusual arrangement of Irish melodies. The Band, which has been well prepared for the broadcast by the Conductor (Mr E. R. Hopwood), will, it is hop9d, make a further broadcast before the end of the year, and on that occasion a number of new players, from the junior band, will be taking part.

Alembers of the cast of the threeact play, “The Soul of Nicholas Snyders,” which the Ashburton Repertory Society will present shortly, spent another strenuous week-end in rehearsals under the direction of Miss Ngaio Marsh, the well-known author, of Christchurch, who is producing the play. Rehearsals take place in a large building in AA r cst Street, where the set to be used on the stage is already in full use to give the advantage of the use of properties, exits and entrances. Aliss Alarsh has spent a great deal of time in preparing the play and has been devoting much attention to individual work on, the part of members of the cast. She has arranged for special lighting effects to bring up the features of the story, which is staged in an old Dutch mill.